1,033 research outputs found

    Effects of birdwatchers on sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) behavior at spring stopover sites in the San Luis Valley, Colorado

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    2012 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.Human recreational activities can disturb wildlife by causing animals to alter feeding patterns, or change feeding locations. Migratory birds in particular can be susceptible to disturbance since they have limited time for resting, feeding and courtship along their migratory routes. Sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) are an iconic and charismatic species that stop in Colorado's San Luis Valley during each spring and fall migration, which has led to an annual spring bird watching festival at the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. The goal of this research was to understand how birdwatchers drawn by the festival affect the behavior of sandhill cranes in this important migration stopover site. For the purposes of this research, "birdwatchers" are defined as any person present in the pullouts where we conducted observations of crane behavior. The behavior of sandhill cranes was observed using focal animal sampling techniques during March 2010 and 2011 at sites both on and off the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge. The number of birdwatchers at a particular site did not affect the time cranes spent in vigilance postures; however, cranes spent more time vigilant on the Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge than on privately owned lands, where there were fewer observers. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the birdwatchers during the festival had minimal impact on sandhill crane behavior on the refuge, including open lands managed as agricultural fields. The results of this research can inform adaptive management approaches to balance bird watching opportunities and the needs of charismatic migratory species

    Health professionals' perspectives on psychological distress and meeting patients' support needs in rheumatology care settings:A qualitative study

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    BackgroundPatients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) face challenges including pain, fatigue and disease flares. Evidence suggests their levels of anxiety and depression are higher compared to the general population. Rheumatology teams report psychologically distressed patients have additional support needs and require more clinical time. Little is currently known about models of support and their integration into care pathways.AimTo understand rheumatology health professionals' perspectives on patients' psychological distress and ways to meet support needs.MethodsThe study used a qualitative design, with data collected in telephone semi-structured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.ResultsFifteen interviews were conducted. Two main themes with sub-themes represent the data: Theme 1: ‘No one shoe fits all’—the many manifestations of distress in patients (sub-themes: recognising distress, dealing with distress, dealing with life events alongside an IRD) and Theme 2: ‘If rheumatology could be interwoven with psychological principles’—the need to attend to the psychological impact of IRDs, alongside the physical impact (sub-themes: priority given to physical health, working together to help patients in distress, how should patient distress be measured?, the need for extra time and resources).ConclusionDistress can be obvious or hidden, cause issues for patients and health professionals and lead to poor engagement with care provision. Health professionals described the powerful link between physical and mental distress. This study suggests psychological support provision should be embedded within the rheumatology team and that patients' emotional wellbeing should be given equal priority to their physical wellbeing

    A virtual co-creation collaboration between a university physics research group and school students

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    [EN] This work aims to inspire, ignite and engage school students to consider STEM at university, by collaborating between a university research group and school students. Learning resources will be co-created with students, based on what they have learnt and their new ideas. These resources will be used to teach future students, in a multiplying effect. We specifically target a widening participation school. Numerous engagement techniques have been used to sustain participation whilst teaching online. Breakout rooms have been used extensively, to provide close interactions between researchers and students. Both male and female researchers deliver the project, to provide role models in particular for the girls amongst the students, who are in the minority. Surveys are being employed before, during and after the project to evaluate the evolution of students’ attitudes towards STEM. Given the projected success of this pilot, plans are in place for a national roll-out of virtual co-creation collaborations.Evans, M.; Abrahams, R.; Baskill, D.; Earnshaw, Z.; Golton, P.; Shaw, K.; Stevenson, T.... (2021). A virtual co-creation collaboration between a university physics research group and school students. En 7th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd'21). Editorial Universitat Politùcnica de Valùncia. 27-35. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd21.2021.13109OCS273

    Addressing the Gender Gap in Distinguished Speakers at Professional Ecology Conferences

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    Keynote and plenary speakers at professional conferences serve as highly visible role models for early-career scientists and provide recognition of scientific excellence. This recognition may be particularly important for women, who are underrepresented in senior positions in the biological sciences. To evaluate whether conferences fulfill this potential, we examined distinguished speakers at North American ecology conferences between 2000 and 2015 and compared these data with the percentage of women ecologists at diverse career stages. We found that 15%–35% (x = 28%, n = 809) of the distinguished speakers were women, which is significantly lower than the percentage of female ecology graduate students (x = 55%, n = 26,802) but consistent with the percentage of women in assistant- and associate-faculty positions. We recommend that conference organizers institute policies to enhance speaker gender balance, to provide support for speakers with family responsibilities, and to actively monitor gender-related trends in their societies to achieve the equitable representation of women in distinguished speaking roles

    Addressing the Gender Gap in Distinguished Speakers at Professional Ecology Conferences

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    Keynote and plenary speakers at professional conferences serve as highly visible role models for early-career scientists and provide recognition of scientific excellence. This recognition may be particularly important for women, who are underrepresented in senior positions in the biological sciences. To evaluate whether conferences fulfill this potential, we examined distinguished speakers at North American ecology conferences between 2000 and 2015 and compared these data with the percentage of women ecologists at diverse career stages. We found that 15%–35% (x = 28%, n = 809) of the distinguished speakers were women, which is significantly lower than the percentage of female ecology graduate students (x = 55%, n = 26,802) but consistent with the percentage of women in assistant- and associate-faculty positions. We recommend that conference organizers institute policies to enhance speaker gender balance, to provide support for speakers with family responsibilities, and to actively monitor gender-related trends in their societies to achieve the equitable representation of women in distinguished speaking roles

    Urban narrative: Value based urban design

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    Urban Narrative focuses on the social dimension within urban design which is often overlooked in practice which examines human values and needs as a means to inform design practice. The project has been working in partnership with two councils in New Zealand in relation to the social dimension

    Can big data solve a big problem? Reporting the obesity data landscape in line with the Foresight obesity system map.

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    BACKGROUND: Obesity research at a population level is multifaceted and complex. This has been characterised in the UK by the Foresight obesity systems map, identifying over 100 variables, across seven domain areas which are thought to influence energy balance, and subsequent obesity. Availability of data to consider the whole obesity system is traditionally lacking. However, in an era of big data, new possibilities are emerging. Understanding what data are available can be the first challenge, followed by an inconsistency in data reporting to enable adequate use in the obesity context. In this study we map data sources against the Foresight obesity system map domains and nodes and develop a framework to report big data for obesity research. Opportunities and challenges associated with this new data approach to whole systems obesity research are discussed. METHODS: Expert opinion from the ESRC Strategic Network for Obesity was harnessed in order to develop a data source reporting framework for obesity research. The framework was then tested on a range of data sources. In order to assess availability of data sources relevant to obesity research, a data mapping exercise against the Foresight obesity systems map domains and nodes was carried out. RESULTS: A reporting framework was developed to recommend the reporting of key information in line with these headings: Background; Elements; Exemplars; Content; Ownership; Aggregation; Sharing; Temporality (BEE-COAST). The new BEE-COAST framework was successfully applied to eight exemplar data sources from the UK. 80% coverage of the Foresight obesity systems map is possible using a wide range of big data sources. The remaining 20% were primarily biological measurements often captured by more traditional laboratory based research. CONCLUSIONS: Big data offer great potential across many domains of obesity research and need to be leveraged in conjunction with traditional data for societal benefit and health promotion

    Jugoslavenska mornarica u zavrĆĄnim operacijama ,,Jadranu sloboda"

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    The trial was funded by the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment Panel (project reference number HTA 13/04/46 and was sponsored by University College London (UCL).Purpose To report the 3-month results of a randomized trial (Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Cataract Trial [FACT]) comparing femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) with standard phacoemulsification cataract surgery (PCS). Design Multicenter, randomized controlled trial funded by the UK National Institute of Health Research (HTA 13/04/46/). Participants Seven hundred eighty-five patients with age-related cataract. Methods This trial took place in 3 hospitals in the UK National Health Service (NHS). Randomization (1:1) was stratified by site, surgeon, and 1 or both eyes eligible using a secure web-based system. Postoperative assessments were masked to the allocated intervention. The primary outcome was unaided distance visual acuity (UDVA) in the study eye at 3 months. Secondary outcomes included corrected distance visual acuity, complications, and patient-reported outcomes measures. The noninferiority margin was 0.1 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR). ISRCTN.com registry, number ISRCTN77602616. Main Outcome Measures We enrolled 785 participants between May 2015 and September 2017 and randomly assigned 392 to FLACS and 393 to PCS. At 3 months postoperatively, mean UDVA difference between treatment arms was −0.01 logMAR (−0.05 to 0.03), and mean corrected distance visual acuity difference was −0.01 logMAR (95% confidence interval [CI], −0.05 to 0.02). Seventy-one percent of both FLACS and PCS cases were within ±0.5 diopters (D) of the refractive target, and 93% of FLACS and 92% of PCS cases were within ±1.0 D. There were 2 posterior capsule tears in the PCS arm and none in the FLACS arm. There were no significant differences between arms for any secondary outcome. Conclusions Femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery is not inferior to conventional PCS surgery 3 months after surgery. Both methods are as good in terms of vision, patient-reported health, and safety outcomes at 3 months. Longer-term outcomes of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness are awaited.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe
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